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Sunday, January 3, 2010

Cinematic Fashion: Part One.

In the list of things that dictate--or at least lead in the general direction--my sense of dress, the literary clearly sits in one of the top spots. To proclaim that movies also influence this is terribly basic--I fear it couldn't be any more obvious, I mean, honestly. Everyone is inspired by movies, and I'm afraid I haven't got anything more useful to toss into the discussion on the matter. It hardly seems worthwhile to note that we're all inflected by it, that Mad Men makes certain kinds of vintage just that much more trendy and all that sort of thing. Because I mean, really, who cares?

That said, I'm still going to post about it. I guess because it's not so much inspiration I'm interested in at the moment as a kind of blatant desire to dress up in a secret costume. You know, the kind if inspiration that reminds one of the childhood and adolescent obsessions--as in, I actually won't wear XY or Z kind of make up because so-and-so in such-and-such doesn't or wouldn't (my goodness, I hate the tone of this post, but one must get back into the swing of things somehow).

Clever Nettle made a post about this back in the day, and I have to admit that from the moment I saw the movie I had many of the same fashionable fixations. First, I think it's safe to say that I'm almost totally obsessed with Inglourious Basterds. I know, lots of people liked this movie, but seriously. I think it's probably one of te best things to happen in a number of years. It made me sad, because I felt upon leaving the theater that I spend an awful lot of time watching movies that are okay, that are clever in one way or another be it a few funny moments or some prettiness that manages to seduce the magpie in me, but very rarely does an exceptionally well written and then, after all of that, well made movie come our way. It has everything, and not in the way that The Princess Bride has everything. It also had the unprecedented advantage of allowing me to be lost in the world of the film while not depressing me upon its end (what I mean here is that some movies, many in fact, make me quite sad because life is not like those movies--Marie Antoinette oddly was one of these, because it made me so sad that my world was not swathed in ridiculous pastel and insane hairdos and all of that. It is not even always so much an effect of story as it is images).

I get away from my point. Despite all the fantastic manifestations of storytelling, a pretentious statement if I ever heard one, I love nothing more than Melanie Laurent's costumes as Shoshanna Dreyfus. Little pleated cropped pants, fitted sweaters with that embroidered blouse, belts, hats, trench coats, red lipstick only sometimes! So terribly functional and feminine. I suppose it might be one of the things that triggered my intense ache for a more tomboy, masculine, bookish and tailored kind of style. I even just love the little way she pins her hair back and up!

I've been trying to keep my eye out for vintage pieces that fit the bill, and thankfully this cropped trouser look is popping up in a few places I also noted a few of these funny over-all type things from some vintage sellers, although they do tend to be pricey. If I ever feel like venturing out into the frozen wilderness that is my neighborhood, I suppose I'll be combing the trouser sections of both the men's and women's sections of local thrift stores.

I suppose the bottom line is that even as a grown-up (shudder), I cannot help but mimic my favorite movies, dress with what I have to best emulate and dress up as my favorite characters even if my own wardrobe items match in no recognizable way. I suppose it's a habit I'll never abandon completely, which is really alright anyway.

36 comments:

this really was one great movie. i'm glad i saw it and i will definitely buy the dvd and see it again. i still have a halfwritten blogpost about it somewhere, so i guess i should finish it an dpost it these days after my prolonged blogbreak...

I haven't seen this yet because I tend to not like very violent movies - I just assume since it's Tarantino, it's violent. I never thought it would be a place to find fashion inspiration. I'll have to check it out! The one that always gets me is Bonnie & Clyde.

Sally Jane: It's such a great movie! The violence isn't too bad--the first twenty minutes or so there are two scenes that are, but you know they're coming (I haven't seen one of them, it bothers me) but compared to other Tarantino films (and many others) it's pretty tame. There is a lot of sitting around talking about things, the tension of language, which is a nice change.

I too am obsessed with Inglourious Basterds. I watched it for the fourth (wait, maybe fifth) time yesterday and it seriously gets better with each viewing. I'm itching to make a blouse similar the mustard one Shoshanna sports. Love. Love. Love.

i tend to mimic the heroines in my favorite movies, too. pretty in pink was my first biggest influence and in fact, it was after seeing that movie that i first fell in love with fashion and all things thrifted and vintage.

i've heard many great things about Inglourious Basterds. my husband's been dying to see it. reading your post has me intrigued, as well, and i oddly find myself wanting to see it.

Ugh, I know. There are so many movies where I get completely lost in the world, clothes and props and come out in a daze afterwards, terribly disappointed that my life is so far from resembling them. I am making an effort to make my life prettier in general, though. I really need to see this movie.

I couldn't agree more, Inglorious Basterds captivated me, I loved the vintage in it most of all, but I'm not going to lie, t'was such a long film, I was anticipating the ending and when it did finally come it was excellent. But wow yeah the film is terriffic. I loved the cinematography in it, such amazing shots sometimes.

I still haven't seen this. From what you described, it reminds me of Katherin Hepburn and Claudette Cobert. Pulled together and a mix of androgyny and feminity...I wish I could do androgyny better.Marie Antoinette was sad (like so many Sofia Coppola films); there was just this huge separation from reality and what Marie Antoinette lived...

ahh so i just randomly came across your blog, BUT i agree with this post so much. not so much this movie specifically (haven't seen it, sadly) but because i love inspiration from movies. at one point in my life i thought that i (or someone, at the very least) should start a movie/fashion blog. wouldn't that be the best ever? posting different movies & different fashions related to it. i have so many movies i would want to put on there. sigh...

I completely agree with you. I always end up emulating my favourite charactes, even at 19, so I know the feeling. Great blog. Still haven't seen this film though, although I've heard nothing but good things about it. xxx

I haven't seen the movie, but I love the images that you posted. I know about the cropped trousers, they're so tempting, they have to be just right fit-wise, otherwise it could go so wrong and I haven't seen any yet in thrift stores that fit the bill. I saw some that came from H&M at Leproust Vintage...maybe I'll make a trip down there.

Yes, I've always loved those ultilitarian "Rosie Riveter" cover-alls from the 40s too. I actually had a good variation (more of a wartime flightsuit) from a Vogue designer pattern in the 80s but with the cropped legs from a French designer. Unfortunately, I gave away the pattern and can't even find an image of it on the net for memory sake. I have a feeling you might really like this variation created by Jillian Lewis on Project Runway a few seasons ago. I would love for something like that to be my daily uniform.

My name is Kate, and this is my personal style blog. I like cats, lace, Harry Potter, and lipstick. I have freckles and I live in Upstate NY. A little bit more about me can be found here, or please e-mail any questions to allthishappiness@gmail.com.